How Will Japan Pick Its Next Leader?

With Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba about to resign, according to a source close to the premier, attention turns to who will next steer the world's fourth-largest economy.

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The process to pick Japan's next leader is more complicated than before as Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan for most of the post-war period, and its junior coalition partner lost their majorities in both houses of parliament during his tenure.

PARTY LEADERSHIP RACE

First, the LDP must pick a new president to replace Ishiba.

In the last party leadership race in September 2024, candidates needed to secure 20 nominations from the party's lawmakers to be eligible to run.

Candidates will embark on a period of debates and campaigns across Japan culminating in a vote by lawmakers and rank-and-file party members. In the last race, there were nine contenders, and Ishiba won in a run-off.

LDP VOTE